Innocence Lost

Chapter Nineteen

"Oh, my God!" Mary Ellis stood in the doorway. The baby's cry had awakened her and she'd reached Anne's room just in time to see Tavington pull his knife from Gabriel's chest. She stared down in disbelief at Gabriel, whose eyes had already glazed over in death. A large puddle of blood was pooled beneath his body.

Tavington spun around to face Mary after hearing her voice. She shrunk away from him in terror, fearful that she was going to be next. Afraid that she might alert the neighbors, he reached out and pulled her into the room. "Sit down and shut up," he hissed, pointing to the bed.

After Mary had obeyed, he turned to Anne. Kneeling down beside her, he asked, "Is William all right?"

"Y-yes, I think so," Anne said as he helped her to her feet. She looked down at Gabriel sprawled dead on the floor and burst into tears.

Tavington gathered her into his arms, murmuring gently as she let her emotions out. Anne leaned her head on his chest. allowing him to comfort her. He tangled one hand into her hair as she cried, with the other resting protectively on the baby.

Mary still sat on the bed, hiccuping and whimpering, too afraid to speak. As she watched the new parents with their son, she realized then that Gabriel had spoken the truth about Anne's divided loyalties.

A moment later, they all heard someone come in the back door downstairs. Releasing Anne, Tavington unholstered his pistol as he inched to the bedroom door.

"Colonel Tavington?" James Bordon was standing at the bottom of the stairs.

Reholstering the weapon, Tavington called, "Up here, Bordon."

"What is it, Bordon?" Tavington asked as soon as the other man entered the room. "Why are you here?"

"I've got a report that Ben Martin's men are heading back to Pembroke," Bordon explained. "I thought I'd come warn you so you could leave before they arrive.\PoinPointing to Gabriel's body, he asked, "What happened here?"

"He came in on Anne and I unexpectedly," Tavington said. "Things got out of hand rather quickly." After a pause, he added almost casually, "He hurt my son."

Bordon looked over at Anne, who smiled hesitantly at him as she held up little William for him to see.

"He's gorgeous, Anne," he said, reaching out to give her arm a squeeze.

Tavington was standing by the window looking out. "Let's go, Bordon," he said, pacing impatiently. "We need to get the men back here in time to engage the rebels." Turning to Anne, he said, "Pack some things for you and the baby; you're coming with us."

Anne nodded, knowing that she no longer belonged here. After putting little William down in his cradle, she quickly snatched up a few things and stuffed them into a carpet bag she dragged out from under the bed.

"What about me?" Mary Ellis asked timidly.

Tavington turned and regarded her carefully. Gesturing to Bordon he said, "Tie her to the bed and gag her. Martin will find her soon enough and let her go."

"I'd better go down first and make sure the way is clear," Bordon said after he'd secured Mary to the bed.

"That's a good idea," Tavington said. "Anne and I will follow you in a few minutes."

Anne turned to Mary to say goodbye. "Please tell Mr Martin that I'm terribly sorry and for him not to try to find me or worry about me." After Mary nodded, unable to speak because of the gag, she said, "I love you," then followed Tavington out the door without another word, knowing she could never again live in Pembroke.

Tavington handed Anne the reins to Gabriel's horse once they were outside. "Here, you might as well take his horse," he said as he rummaged through Gabriel's pack on the back of the saddle. "Your husband won't be needing him any more." He took Anne’s carpet bag and secured it on top of Gabriel’s pack.

"I suppose you're right," Anne said.

"Let me carry the baby," Bordon said. "You'll need both hands to control the horse."

"Thank you." Anne handed William over to him with the hint of a smile.

"Come on, let's get out of here," Tavington urged. "I don't want to have to fight anyone while we've got a baby with us."

Bordon nodded in agreement. He helped Anne to mount up before going to his own horse.

As they rode away, Anne paused and took one last look at the village that had been her home since childhood.

"Are you coming, Anne," Bordon asked softly.

"Yes, let's go," she said, encouraging her horse. It was time to leave her old life behind.

As soon as they'd arrived back at the dragoon camp, Tavington was all business omoremore. "Bordon, I need for you get Anne safely back to the fort with the baby," Tavington told him. "I am going to take the men back to Pembroke and see if we can't give Martin and his men a nasty surprise."

"Yes, sir."

Riding his horse alongside Bordon's, Tavington reached his arms out for the baby. After Bordon had handed him over, the new father held him close for several minutes. Several dragoons sitting at the nearby campfire started whispering among themselves, am at at the sight of their hard-nosed commander cuddling a baby, but correctly surmising that the child was his.

"Take good care of him, Bordon, " he said as he kissed his son's forehead before handing him back. Without another word, he rode off in search of Wilkins to plan the raid.

"We should start back for the fort right away," Bordon told Anne. "I won't be able to rest until you and the baby are safe."

"I'm ready," saidsaid.